Tubular axle



*May 12, 1936. B. H. URscHEL. 2,0405?? TUBULAR AXLE Filed March 12, 1935 Patented May l2, 1936 UNITED ys'rTEs PATENT OFFICE 'rUBULAR AXLE Bex-tis III. Urscliel,- Bowling Green, Ohio applicati@ March 12, 1935, serial No. 10,661 2 claims. (ol. 301-124) My invention has for an object to 'provide a tubular axle having efficientmeans of connection to the stub axle of the frontwheels of automobiles, trucks, and the like.

My invention particularly provides for ntegrally uniting yokes in the ends f a tubular axle member to form stub axle steering knuckles that will` sustain the changing load and torsional strains transmitted between main axle member when supporting a self-propelled vehicle'.

The invention also has for its object other featuresand advantages that render the use of tubular axles applicable vto'the needs of present 15v day trucks and automobiles and which will appear from the following description and. upon examination of the drawing. 4

The invention may be contained in axle constructions that vary Ain their details, and to illustrate a practical application of thevinveni tion I have selected an axle containing the invention as an example of the various construcscribe it hereinafter. The axle selected and having the yoke connection of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is aside view of the yoke member. Fig. 2 is aaview of one'end of a tubular axle. Fig. 3l is a side view oftheyoke member and.v end part of the axle. Fig. 4 is a view of a section taken along the plane of the line 4--4 shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a View of the section taken along the plane ofthe line 5-5 shown in Fig. 3.

As is well known, tubular axles have a greater 5. load sustaining strength per unit ofweight than other forms of axle construction, and, due to their /cylindrical shape, possess a maximum torque resisting'power rendering them more efcient than other axle constructions for use with self-propelled vehicles.-

In the form `of construction shown in the drawing the 'ends of each yoke I are bored, as at 2, and are adapted to receive and form a bearing or a support for a king pin Aor other stub axle or wheel connecting part. Each yoke member may be shaped tojhave a greater cross-sectional area atthe point of connection with the tubular axle than at points'more remotefrom the axle, and the central cylindricalportion 4 may be provided with flanges 6 for the transmission 0f load strains to the tubular axle. are preferably formed to extend over the edges of portions of the axle when the axle and yoke are assembled. constituting an efcient means for the transmission of load strains.y

parallel lateral surfaces.

the wheels and thel lof the shaped and Cut ends tions that embody the-invention and shall del portions I I preferably -for welded material, as at I8. Thus,

The flanges v In order that the yokes may be secured in the ends of the tube, the central cylindrical portions 4 ofthe yokes are provided with parts having If desired, the central parts may protrude from the body of each yoke to form the projecting part 1 having parallel plane lateral surfaces 8 tangential to the cylindrical surfaces ofthe central portion 4. The projecting part l is substantially rectangular in cross-section having plane sides and curved tops and bottoms. The cylindrical central portion of the 4yoke and the centrally projecting part 1 are adapted to fit the interior surfaces of the tubular axle Il.

The ends of the axle are slotted, and the p0rtions II between the slots are flattened leaving the parts of the axle contiguous to the flattened portions andthe slots cylindrical. Parts of the ends are cut out, as at I2 to form semi-circular edge portions I3 that fit the cylindrical central portions of the yokes. If desired, the wall parts of the ends of the tube may be thickened by any Isuitable means in advance of cutting the slots. Also, if desired, the end portions may be reduced in size as measured transversely.

The rectangular parts 1 are inserted into the shaped ends of the axle and may project into the ax'le any desired length. f

When the projecting parts 'I are inserted in the end of the axle, the thickness of the walls of the ends of the axle is such as to form a space between the top and bottom surfaces of the ends of the axle and the flanges 6 in which suitable welding material may be llocated as atl I5. The portions II are bent around the cylindrical central portions of the yokes 4, the length of the being such as to dispose the end edges in spaced relation to form a space when the parts are assembled and welded together, there is produced an exceedingly the transmission of torsional and vertical load strains from the front wheels to the axle.

The yokes I are provided with recesses 20 having the curved surface 2|- andl the at surfaces 22 extending at right angles to the axes of the cylinder portions 4 of the yokes. Trie yokes are confines of thev end parts II to produce cooling ,rigid structure for' of the interior of the yokes and the ends of the tube as the outer surfaces, of the parts II are cooled.

steel member having l ting between the surfaces produces and maintains an accurate' ntof the yoke and the counteracting parts of the tube during and after the completion of heat treatment of the axlel which is necessary to harden the bearings and thereby produce the same contraction oi' these parts and accurate fitting of all parts of the contiguous surfaces notwithstanding an irregularity of surface that may exist prior to the heat treatment. y

I claim:

1. In a tubular steel structure, steel yokeshaped members having arms extending curvedly from central parts of the said members, the central parts having curved surfaces, a tubular sides of the end parts of the tubular member,

` the said central parts substantially ntting in the 'tion crosswise the tubular member for admission of chilling uid within the said central parts upon slots formed in oppositel heat treatment of the connected yoke members and the tubular member for producing intimate contact and iitting between the, surfaces of the end portions of the tubular member and the central parts o!v the yoke members.

2. In a tubular steel structure, steel yokeshaped members having arms extending curvedly from central parts of the said members, the said central parts having curved surfaces, a tubular steel member having slots formed in opposite sides of end parts of the'tubular member, the said central parts substantially tting in the slots and the the slots, the end parts of the said portions bent around and substantially fitting and enclosing the said central parts and welded to the yoke members along the edges of the said portions, the yoke member having openings extending through parts of the arms and the central parts of the yoke members in'a direction crosswise the tubular member for admission 0I chilling uid upon heat treatment of the connected tubular member and yoke members for'producing intimate contact andtting between the contiguous portions of the end parts between surfaces of the end portions and the said central 25 parts of theyoke members.

' BERTIS H. URSCHEL. 

